Leveling saddle assembly



Sept.

J. W. WHALEN LEVELING SADDLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 21, 1951 ua/z/v :0. 10/1945, INVENTOR.

arraeufi s Patented Sept. 14, 1954 N l TE D STAT ES- QFF l CE LEVELING SADDLE ASSEMBLY John W. Whalen, Inglewood, Galifl, assignor to- Daniel Orifice Fitting Gompany, Los- Angeles, Gaiifi, accorporation of California;

Application May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,360'

This invention relates to' a device" for adjust ably supporting a post on a cross-member and is particularly directed to an adjustable saddle for supporting a pipe in vertical" position. Leveling saddle assemblies of this type are useful in supporting instruments such as meters at a an adjustable saddle assembly which is. rugged in construction and has a minimum of operating parts, yet which provides for universal pivoting movement between the parts thereof.

A more particular object is to provide a twopart leveling saddle assembly having a joint between the parts formed on the surface of the sphere for universal tilting movement.

A more detailed object is to provide such a device having means for preventing relative rotation between the parts in order to facilitate threading of a pipe into one of the parts.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view partly broken away showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof partly broken away, the meter being omitted.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view partly broken away taken substantially on the line 4-4 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 55 as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, a meter or other instrument I t is fixed on the upper end of a tubular post or pipe II. The leveling saddle assembly 52 embodying my invention is used for supporting the pipe i l on the approximately horizontal support pipe I3 and for maintaining the pipe H in a vertical position. The assembly I2 includes the saddle member I4 and the collar member I5. The saddle I4 comprises an arcuate base i 6 having spaced lugs Ii which engage the outer surface of the support pipe I3. Outwardly directed projections I 8 are provided at the ends of the base I and these projections are each provided with a slot I9. A strap generally designated extends around the circumference of the pipe I3 and is connected at its ends to the projections I8. As shown 11. the

' port post II.

drawings, the straptakesthe-form of two curved A- tubular head 27 is formed integrally on the base I6 and extends radially therefrom. The upper surface 28 of this head is formed as a portion of thesurface of a sphere; The head" 2! is also provided with a frusto-conical surface 2 t-diverging'radially outwardly andp'ositionecl'be tween the surface 28 and the base It. The collar member I5 is provided with a spherical surface 30 which has surface contact with the surface 28 on the saddle member It. The surfaces 28 and 30 thus provide a ball joint mounting for the collar member I5 on the saddle member I4 and permit the members to have relative universal tilting movement.

The collar member I5 is internally threaded at 3| to receive the lower end of the meter sup- The member I5 is also provided with a plurality of downwardly extending arms 32, each of which is provided with a threaded aperture 33 to receive a set screw 34. The inner end 35 of each set screw is tapered and engages the frusto-conical surface 29. Tighteningof the set screws 34 serves to secure the members I 4 and I 5 against axial separation, and furthermore acts to hold them in selected angular relation ship.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, means is provided for preventing relative rotation between the members I4 and I5. As shown, this means includes the radially extending lugs 38 provided on the head 27, which lugs are engaged by the arms 3?- when the collar member I5 is turned relative to the saddle member I 4. These lugs are useful when the pipe II is being threaded into the opening 3| since they limit the turning of the collar member I 5 relative to the saddle mem ber I4.

In operation, the saddle member I4 is first mounted on the approximately horizontal support pipe I3. The strap 2c is installed and the nuts 25 and 25 tightened to secure the saddle member It in position. It is not essential that the pipe I3 be exactly horizontal, and a certain amount of inclination can be tolerated. Furthermore, it is not essential that the saddle member I4 be positioned on the circumference'of the pipe It at precisely the highest elevation. The

collar member I5 is then installed on the saddle member H. with the spherical surfaces 28 and 30 in engagement. The meter support pipe II is then threaded into the opening 3| in the collar member 15. During this operation the lugs 38 are engaged by the legs 32 to prevent rotary movement of the collar I5. The meter support pipe II is then plumbed by means of a level or other suitable instrument and the set screws 34 are tightened against the frusto-conical surface 29 to maintain the pipe II in its vertical position. The meter I0 is then installed on the pipe II in the conventional manner.

If the approximately horizontal pipe I3 should settle in service or change its inclination slightly, the leveling saddle assembly l2 may be employed for readjusting the position of the pipe H to bring it back to a vertical position. This is accomplished merely by loosening the set screws 34, moving the pipe H to a vertical position, and then retightening the set screws '34.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A leveling saddle assembly for a meter supporting post, comprising: a single piece mounting member having an arcuate portion adapted to conform to the curvature of a pipe and terminating at its arcuate extremities in a pair of angularly directed lugs, said mounting member also having a radially directed hollow boss enlarged at its extremity, its outer end surface being substantially spherical in contour, said boss being externally tapered adjacent its extremity; a U-strap adapted to encircle a pipe and cooperating with said lugs to secure said mounting member rigidly thereto; a single piece collar member having an internally screwthreaded end to receive a pipe section and also having axially directed lugs adapted to overhang the enlarged extended end of the boss, said collar having a spherically contoured surface between said lugs mating with the spherical end of said boss; and set screws extending through each of said collar lugs to engage the tapered portion of said boss, thereby to adjust the angular position of said collar relative to said boss.

2. A leveling saddle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the varcuate portion of said mounting member being a portion of a cylinder and is provided at its arcuate extremities and axial extremities with rudimentary pipe engaging bosses; and means is provided between said hollow boss and collar to limit relative rotation,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,207 Hart Dec. 28, 1897 864,588 Young Aug. 27, 1907 973,558 Pierce Oct. 25, 1910 1,447,212 Kerr Mar. 6, 1923 2,004,238 Fithian June 11, 1935 2,214,382 Rastetter et al. Sept. 10, 1940 2,497,933 Devers Feb. 21, 1950 ISM 

